Library 

OF  THE 

University  of  NortK  Carolina 

This  book  was  presented  by 

dp  385- 1  -   AS&a, 


Doc,  No.  33.] 


[Ses.  1856-'T. 


Ordered  to  oe  Printed. 


Holden  &  Wilson,  Printers  to  the  State. 


ATLANTIC  AND  NORTH- CAROLINA  RAILROAD. 


Office  Atlantic  and  N,  C.  Railroad  Company, 
Newbern,  December  13,  1856. 

Sir  :  We  have  the  honor  to  send  you  the  accompanying 
commmunication  to  the  Assembly  of  North  Carolina,  which 
please  lay  before  the  House  of  Commons. 

Zour  obedient  servants, 

COUNCIL  WOOTEN, 
LEWIS  C.  DESMOND, 
OEO.  S.  STEVENSON, 
ERWIN  H.  THOMPSON, 
JOHN  D.  WHITFORD, 

Committee. 
Hon.  J.  G..  Shepherd,  Speaker  H.  C* 


COMMUNICATION. 

To  the  honorable  the  General  Assembly 

of  the  State  of  North  Carolina: 

Among  the  various  railroad  schemes  which  have  been  agi- 
tated in  North  Carolina  for  the  past  twenty  years,  none  per- 
haps is  of  greater  importance  and  would  embrace  within  i;s 


2  Document  No.  33.  [Session 

scope  of  operations  the  interest  of  more  of  lier  citizens  than 
the  eastern  extension  of  the  North  Carolina  railroad  to  the 
Atlantic  ocean.  Of  the  vast  commercial  Benefits  it  would 
ultimately  confer  upon  the  State,  it  is  hardly  necessary  to 
speak.  Heretofore  it  has  been  looked  upon  by  many  as  a 
matter  of  some  doubt.  Now  you  have  the  fact  before  you, 
that  ships  of  heavy  tonnage,  capable  of  carrying  five  thou- 
sand barrels  of  flour,  have  passed  in  and  out  of  the  noble  and 
capacious  harbor  of  Beaufort  with  perfect  safety.  Vessels, 
it  has  been  proved,  of  much  larger  capacity  could  trade  with 
that  port  with  equal  facility.  Then,  who  can  doubt  that  the 
day  is  not  distant,  when  the  rich  products  of  the  west  will 
cause  the  canvass  of  every  nation  to  whiten  that  beautiful 
bay  ?  The  business  of  the  North-Carolina  Eailroad  has  al- 
ready surpassed  the  anticipations  of  its  most  sanguine  friends  ; 
and  the  activity  and  zeal  displayed  in  the  building  of  the 
western  extension-,  admonishes  the  east  to  hasten  their  work 
to  completion.  To  provide  for  a  portion  of  the  freight  busi- 
ness of  those  two  roads,  in  addition  to  a  large  local  business, 
would  require  the  construction  of  a  road,  on  a  scale  at  least 
equal,  in  proportion  to  its  length,  to  that  of  the  North-Caroli- 
na Road.  For  this  reason  the  undersigned  have  been  appoint- 
ed by  the  Atlantic  and  North  Carolina  Eailroad  Company  to 
present  this  matter  to  your  honorable  body,  and  to  solicit 
such  assistance  as  will  enable  them  to  effect  the  object  de- 
sired. In  the  performance  of  this  duty,  they  must  be  per- 
mitted to  say  that,  after  your  noble  liberality  to  their  section 
of  the  State,  it  is  with  unaffected  diffidence  that  they  again 
invoke  your  aid.  But  the  magnitude  of  this  work  encourages 
them  to  believe,  that  you  will  assist  in  its  completion,  and 
heartily  co-operate  in  building  up  a  great  sea-port  town  with- 
in our  own  borders. 

The  Atlantic  and  North-Carolina  Eailroad  was  chartered  in 
1853, — capital  stock  $900,000.  The  preliminary  survey  was 
made  in  1S5±,  under  the  charge  of  Col.  Walter  Gwynn,  and 
the  company  was  organized  on  the  21st  day  of  July,  of  the 
same  year.  At  the  session  of  the  Legislature  for  IM.'vl-'nK, 
the  charter  was  amended,  and  the  capital  increased  to  $1,000,- 


1S56-7.]  Document  No.  33.  3 

000,  the  State  agreeing  to  become  a  stockholder  for  two-thirds 
of  the  same,  provided  certain  conditions  in  the  charter  were 
complied  with.  This  having  been  done,  on  the  12th  day  of 
September,  1855,  a  subscription  of  $1,006,000  was  made  by 
the  board  of  internal  improvements  in  behalf  of  the  State. 
The  affairs  ot  the  company  are  now  conducted  by  a  board  of 
twelve  directors — four  of  whom  are  elected  by  the  private 
stockholders,  and  eight  appointed  by  the  board  of  internal  im- 
provement. 

After  the  location,  and  as  soon  as  the  estimates  and  plans 
could  be  prepared,  the  board  of  directors  entered  into  con- 
tracts, at  different  times,  for  the  building  of  the  road  in  di- 
visions, with  John  C.  Washington,  of  Lenoir  county,  Edward 
11.  Stanly,  II.  G.  Cutler  and  Council  B.  Wood,  of  Craven 
county,  Stone  &  McDowell,  Wilmington,  1ST.  C,  William 
Murdoch,  of  Salisbury  and  John  M.  Morehead,  of  Greens- 
boro'. They  are  all,  as  many  of  you  are  aware,  able  and  en- 
ergetic contractors,  and  their  high  standing  as  gentlemen  is  a 
sure  guarantee  of  the  faithful  performance  of  the  work.  It 
was  the  intention  and  wish  of  the  directors  to  distribute  the 
contracts  for  the  construction  of  the  road  to  the  citizens  along 
the  line ;  therefore  advertisements  were  made  for  proposals 
for  the  work  in  sections  of  one  mile,  or  more.  But  on  an  ex_ 
animation  of  the  bids,  it  was  found  impracticable  to  accom. 
plish  the  ohj :.'ct.  However,  in  accordance  with  the  wishes  of 
the  directors,  the  large  contractors  have  cheerfully  sub-let  to 
them,  at  the  chief  engineer's  estimates,  such  parts  of  their 
works  as  'diey  desired.  The  contractors  are  to  furnish  the 
iron  and  oilier  materials,  and  build  ihe  road,  with  all  the 
bridges  and  one  turn-out.  at  each  station,  from  eighteen  feet 
water  on  B.-aufort  haibor  to  the  terminus  of  the  North-Caro- 
lina Railroad,  at  Goldtboro',  (with  the  exception  of  the  line 
through  Nuwbern)  for  $1,532,000. 

The  wood  and  water  stations,  passenger  and  freight  build- 
ings, machine  shops,  engine  houses  and  wharves,  are  not  in- 
cluded in  these  contracts,  but  are  to  be  taken  by  the  con- 
tractor at  the  chief  engineer's  estimates,  subject  to  the  ap- 
proval <j^  the  board   of  directors.     The  road   id   to   be  a  tirat 


4  Document  No.  33.  [Session 

class  T  railroad  of  sixty  pounds  rail  to  the  yard,  with  chairs 
and  heavy  pine  or  oak  ties  8  feet  long,  and  facing  8  inches. 
The  road  is  to  be  made,  in  all  respects,  subject  to  the  accept- 
ance of  the  chief  engineer  of  the  company,  and  the  whole  to 
be  completed  in  January,  1858.  In  consequence  of  the  high 
price  of  iron,  labor  and  material,  and  the  unexpected  difficul- 
ty encountered  in  procuring  earth  for  the  embankments  in 
the  swamps  and  pocosins,  through  which  the  line  runs,  we 
apprehend  the  contractors  will  have  but  a  small  margin  for 
profit.  But  it  is  due  to  them  to  say,  that  they  have  met  the 
highest  expectations  of  the  company,  by  progressing  steadily 
with  the  work,  since  ground  was  first  broken  on  the  16th  day 
of  March,  1855,  and  by  using  the  greatest  exertions  to  com- 
plete it  in  the  proper  time. 

Three-fourths  of  the  entire  line  is  now  graded.  Ties  suffi- 
cient for  one-half  of  the  road,  and  four  thousand  tons  of  rails, 
have  been  delivered  on  the  property  of  the  company.  Four 
thousand  tons  more  have  been  contracted  for,  and  will  be 
shipped  from  England  in  a  few  months.  A  large  force  is  em- 
ployed at  track-laying,  and  the  track  has  been  completed  six- 
teen miles  west  of  ISTewbern,  on  which  a  second  class  car  will 
be  run,  with  the  construction  train,  about  the  1st  day  of  Jan- 
uary next,  in  connection  with  the  Goldsboro'  line  of  stages. 
Two  locomotives  and  eighteen  freight  and  gravel  cars  have 
been  purchased  and  received.  Several  hundred  thousands  of 
brick  have  been  laid  in  abutments,  piers  and  buildings.  Many 
workmen  are  actively  engaged  on  the  principal  bridges,  and 
the  entire  work,  from  Beaufort  harbor  to  Goldsboro',  is  in  a 
state  of  rapid  progression.  A  brief  history  only  is  here  given 
of  the  progress  of  the  work.  If  desired,  a  more  detailed  ac- 
count can  be  found  in  the  proceedings  of  the  meeting  of  the 
stockholders  of  this  company  already  laid  before  you.  The 
work  would  have  been  farther  advanced  but  for  the  extraor- 
dinary pressure  in  the  country,  the  high  price  of  labor  and 
every  article  necessary  for  its  construction. 

In  reference  to  the  cost  of  the  road,  if  it  is  built,  as  the 
^North-Carolina  railroad  is,  permanently,  and  of  the  best  ma- 
terials, that  it  may  be  operated  as  cheaply  and  with  as  much 


1856-7.]  Document  No.  33.  5 

safety,  it  would  cost  about  the  same  that  work  did,  $20,000 
per  mile.  To  adopt  a  cheaper  plan  would,  in  the  opinion  of 
the  company,  be  against  the  best  interests  of  the  stockholders 
and  the  State.  It  is  proper  here  to  remark  that  notwithstanding 
the  cuts  and  fills  on  this  road  are  much  lighter  than  those  on 
the  North-Carolina  road,  the  increased  number  of  bridges,  in 
proportion  to  its  length,  and  the  dense  swamps  and  pocosins 
through  which  it  runs  that  have  to  be  emptied  by  expensive 
lateral  drains,  about  equalize  their  cost.  Col.  Gwynn's  esti- 
mate for  the  road  was  $1,663,118,  and  he  adds,  in  his  report, 
"  I  am  of  the  opinion  that  the  road  could  be  built  for  less  than 
my  estimate."  Col.  Gwynn  did  not  embrace,  in  this  amount, 
the  wharves  and  the  filling  in  at  White  Rock,  a  costly  work 
on  Beaufort  harbor,  required  to  reach  deep  water,  which  is 
included  in  Gov.  Morehead's  contract.  He  also  says  that 
"  the  drains  and  culverts  were  to  be  trestle  work,"  and  "that, 
in  affixing  a  price  for  excavation  and  embankment,  he  assum- 
ed the  value  of  labor  at  what  it  was  then."  This  company- 
has  sufficient  experience  now  in  public  works  to  know  that 
but  little  reliance  can  be  placed  in  estimates.  It  would  cer- 
tainly be  a  new,  as  well  as  gratifying  feature,  in  the  history  of 
the  improvements  of  this  State,  to  have  them  completed  be- 
low their  estimated  cost.  And  while  the  company  fully  ap- 
preciates the  eminent  services  of  Col.  Gwynn,  and  have  great 
confidence  in  his  skill  and  ability,  and  esteem  him  as  one  of 
the  first  engineers  in  the  countiy,  yet,  all  experience  has 
taught  them  to  believe  it  is  not  possible  for  any  man  to  reach 
into  the  future  and  calculate  with  accuracy  the  cost  of  such  a 
scheme.  The  price  of  iron  alone  has  varied  over  two  hundred 
thousand  dollars  on  the  quantity  required  for  the  work  since 
its  commencement. 

The  cost  of  the  road,  however,  must  necessarily  prove  great- 
er in  amount  than  that  anticipated  by  Col.  Gwynn.  The  rise 
in  labor,  provisions  and  iron  would  make  no  inconsiderable 
difference.  But  since  his  report  the  location  of  the  line  and 
the  character  of  the  work  have  been  materially  changed. 
Embankments  have  been  substituted  for  the  cheaper  and  less 
permanent  trestle  work,  which  was  adopted  in  the  original 


6  Document  No.  33.  [Session 

plan  ;  arched  culverts  of  brick  and  gtono  have  taken  the  place 
of  the  small  wooden  bridges;  grades  have  been  reduced  from 
36  to  26  feet,  and  the  road,  both  in  accordance  with  the  re- 
commendation of  Col.  Gwynn  and  our  own  engineer,  lias  been 
straightened  to  nearly  an  air  line.  These  great  and  durable 
improvements  will  fully  account  for  any  excess  which  may  be 
found  in  the  cost  of  the  road. 

If  we  look,  for  a  moment,  at  these  necessary  alterations  in 

the  original  plan  of  construction,  the  increased  expenditures 

to   which   glhision   Irs  leen   mrde,  sink  inio  ir.pignif  ernci?, 

A  perfect  railroad,"  it  has  been  said,  "would  be  an  air  line 
from  point  to  point,  on  a  level.  Such  a  road  would  traverse 
no  distance  beyond  what  would  be  necessary,  and  being  free 
alike  from  grades  and  curves,  would  obtain  the  maximum  ef- 
fect from  the  power  employed."  Of  this  road  eighty-eight 
miles  is  a  straight  line,  the  balance  (eight,)  is  so  slightly  curv- 
ed that  it  will  not  be  perceptible  in  its  operations.  By  com- 
paring the  ruling  gradienfof  26  feet  per  mile,  with  36  feet 
per  mile,  reported  upon  as  the  ruling  gradient  upon  the  sur- 
vey of  1853,  by  Col.  Gwynn,  for  the  eastern  extension,  it  will 
be  seen,  states  our  chief  engineer,  "  that  this  important  fea- 
ture of  the  road,  upon  which  the  cost  of  freight  and  travel  so 
much  depends,  has  been  materially  improved,  and  the  effi- 
ciency of  the  road  greatly  enhanced  " 

To  understand  this,  it  is  only  necessary  to  state  that  an  en- 
gine of  18  tons,  with  a  load  of  200  tons,  would  have  to  exert 
a  force  to  propel  that  load  up  a  plane  of  26  feet  to  the  mile, 
that  it  would  have  to  exert  to  draw  upon  a  level  501  tons ; 
whereas,  to  propel  same  load  up  a  plane  of  36  feet  to  the  mile, 
it  would  have  to  exert  a  force  that  would  draw  upon  a  level 
614  tons,  or  an  additional  force  of  113  tons.  In  general  terms, 
20  feet  of  elevation  to  the  mile  reduces  the  power  of  the  en- 
gine one-half. 

From  this  it  will  appear,  that  with  lighter  engines,  than  are 
used  generally  upon  railroads,  we  can  perform  the  same,  or 
even  more  labor,  at  a  great  saving  of  wear  and  tear  of  ma- 
chinery and  road.  "With  this  knowledge  before  them,  and 
with  a  proper  sense  of  that  responsibility  which  every  build- 


1856-'?.]  Document    No.    33.  7 

er,  as  well  as  operator  of  railroads  should  feel  for  the  safety 
of  their  fellow  beings,  and  the  property  of  those  who  have 
entrusted  it  to  their  care,  should  they  have  done  less  than  en- 
deavor to  approach  perfection?  Was  it  not  their  duty,  for* 
such  a  reasonable  sum,  to  provide  at  once  against,  not  only 
the  possibility,  but  probability  of  the  destruction  of  human 
life,  and  that  insidious  moth-wear  and  tear  of  machinery  and 
reads,  that  eats  up  the  earnings  of  these  great  works?  Was 
it  not  their  duty  to  guard  against  accidents,  and  prevent  the 
expenditure  of  large  sums  hereafter  under  great  disadvan- 
tage ?  They  believed  it  was ;  consequently,  if  they  get  the 
means,  you  will  have  a  road  of  direct  alignment,  easy  grades, 
ample  buildings,  convenient  wharves,  and  one  in  every  par- 
ticular, a  first  class  work. 

If  experienced  engineers  have  been  deceived  in  their  cal- 
culations to  the  amount  of  thousands  and  hundreds  of  thou- 
sands of  dollars,  in  relation  to  the  cost  of  the  different  im- 
provements in  the  State,  is  it  not  then  reasonable  to  suppose 
that  those  of  less  experience  would  fall  into  the  same  error? 
Two  years  ago,  when  this  matter  was  before  the  Legislature, 
the  company  was  of  the  opinion  that  the  road  could  be  built 
for  an  amount  considerably  below  that  which  they  have  now 
ascertained  it  will  cost.  They  have  already  stated  to  jrou  the 
cause.  In  its  construction  and  cost,  the  road  will  compare 
favorably  with  the  North-Carolina  Railroad — a  work  that  has 
been  managed  with  consummate  skill  and  ability,  from  its 
commencement  up  to  the  present  moment.  In  its  manage- 
ment, they  have  had  due  regard  to  what  they  sincerely  con- 
ceived to  be  the  real  interest  of  the  stockholders  and  State, 
and  have  encouraged  that  enlightened  economy  which  must 
redound  to  their  prosperity,  and  welfare.  Others,  doubtless, 
could  have  conducted  the  affairs  of  the  company  with  more 
ability — none  could  with  more  zeal  and  solicitude  for  success. 
A  sum  not  exceeding  $400,000  will  complete  and  equip  the 
road. 

This  statement  is  not  based  upon  estimates  ;  is  not  the  re- 
sult of  mere  speculation  ;  but  the  amount  of  work  performed 
and  the  materials  delivered,  warrant  the  assertion. 


8  Document  No.  30.  [Session 

The  charter  of  the  company  provides  for  an  increase  of  the 
capital  stock  to  a  sum  sufficient  to  complete  the  road,  by 
opening  books  for  new  stock,  or  by  borrowing  money  on  the 
credit  of  the  company,  and  on  the  mortgage  of  its  charter 
and  works.  But  it  is  impracticable  by  this  mode  to  raise  the 
required  amount.  The  counties  directly  interested  in  the 
road,  and  through  which  it  passes,  have  already  embarked 
largely  in  this  work.  Craven  has  subscribed  for  $300,000  in 
the  stock  of  the  company,  $150,000  in  her  corporate  capacity, 
and  the  same  amount  by  individuals.  Lenoir  has  $100,000, 
which  is  equally  divided  between  the  county  and  her  citizens  ; 
and  Carteret  has  $50,000.  The  balance  of  the  $533,000  is 
made  up  by  individuals  and  companies  in  different  sections 
of  the  State.  In  addition  to  these  praiseworthy  and  heavy 
subscriptions,  the  assessed  value  of  real  estate  has  risen  in 
two  of  these  counties,  Craven  and  Lenoir,  about  $1,000,000, 
which,  of  course,  considerably  increases  their  State  and  other 
taxes.  They  have  met  the  calls  made  upon  their  subscrip- 
tions with  promptness,  and  are  now  liquidating  the  debt  cre- 
ated by  such  demands.  But  they  have  not  the  ability  to  go 
further,  and  it  must  be  evident  to  you  that  it  would  be  useless 
to  re-open  the  books  with  the  expectation  of  aid  from  that 
source. 

The  company  has,  then,  no  other  alternative,  but  to  appeal 
to  you  for  assistance,  similar  to  that  which  you  have  hereto- 
fore so  generously  extended  to  the  North-Carolina  Road. 
And,  if  you  feel  inclined  to  give  them  aid,  they  would  re- 
spectfully suggest  that,  instead  of  endorsed  bonds,  which  are 
not  available,  and  to  guard  against  the  probability  of  loss  to 
the  State,  provision  be  made,  authorizing  the  board  of  inter- 
nal improvements  to  make  subscription,  from  time  to  time, 
as  the  necessities  of  the  company  should,  in  their  opinion,  re- 
quire, not  exceeding  in  the  aggregate  $400,000,  and  the  trea- 
surer be  authorized  to  pay  the  same  in  coupon  bonds  of  the 
State  at  their  par  value.  The  said  subscription  not  to  be 
made  until  the  board  of  internal  improvements  is  satisfacto- 
rily assured  that  the  present  capital  stock  of  the  company  has 
been  judiciously  expended  on  the  work,  and  that  the  further 


1856-7.] '  Document  No.  33.  9 

sum  of  $400,000  would  complete  and  equip  the  road.  With. 
such  a  provision,  and  with  an  Executive,  whose  watchful  eye 
is  ever  turned  towards  the  interest  of  North-Carolina  and  the 
welfare  of  her  people,  and  with  a  finance  officer,  whose  rigid 
grasp  on  the  treasury  knows  no  relaxation,  save  by  a  strict 
compliance  with  your  acts,  and  with  a  railroad  completed  and 
equipped,  with  construction  account  closed,  there  surely  could 
be  no  doubt  of  the  payment  of  the  interest,  $24,000,  annually. 
This  great  work  is  now  upon  the  eve  of  its  fulfilment ;  a  work 
consecrated  to  the  wisdom  of  a  Caldwell  and  the  virtues  of  a 
Gaston — a  work  that  must,  as  they  foresaw,  bind  the  east  and 
west  in  perpetual  brotherhood — a  work  that  must  make  them 
know  and  feel  that  "  they  are  indeed  one  people  " — a  work 
that  must  secure  to  North-Carolina  her  commercial  indepen- 
dence. Such  is  the  character  of  the  work  for  which  they  ask 
your  aid.  And  when  it  is  remembered  that  it  constitutes  one 
great  leading  line,  of  unbroken  uniformity  of  guage  from  the 
seaboard  to  the  mountains,  its  ultimate  importance  to  the 
North-Carolina  and  "Western  Railroads  and  the  citizens  of  the 
entire  State,  they  then  feel  as  if  they  had  some  claim  as  North 
Carolinians  to  call  upon  you  for  the  means  for  its  prompt  and 
effective  completion. 

Yery  respectfully  submitted. 

COUNCIL  WOOTEN, 
LEWIS  C.  DESMOND, 
GEORGE  S.  STEVENSON, 
ERWIN  A.  THOMPSON, 
JOHN  D.  WHITFORD, 

Committee. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  N.C.  AT  CHAPEL  HILL 


00042071934 


FOR  USE  ONLY  IN 
THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  COLLECTION 


